China calls for end to US-Iran war as Tehran‑Beijing talks intensify

Beijing’s foreign minister Wang Yi on Wednesday urged a comprehensive cease‑fire, stating that China calls for end to US-Iran war and describing the clash as “deeply distressing.” The declaration followed a meeting with Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in the capital for the first time since hostilities erupted on Feb. 28.

China calls for end to US-Iran war

Wang warned that the two‑month conflict has already inflicted heavy civilian casualties and threatens regional stability, urging all parties to resume dialogue. “A resumption of hostilities is not acceptable,” he said in a televised briefing. The United States, meanwhile, has halted “Project Freedom,” its effort to shepherd commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, after President Trump cited requests from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

“We hope Beijing will convey the need for Tehran to reopen the strait,”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters, echoing Washington’s pressure on Tehran. The strait’s blockage has driven global fuel prices upward; Brent crude slipped to ↓ $100 per barrel, still well above the pre‑war ↑ $70 level. China, a major oil consumer, sees the disruption as a direct threat to its economy. Analysts at Reuters note that Beijing’s leverage over Tehran could shape the next round of negotiations. Bloomberg reports that Trump is slated to visit Beijing on May 14‑15 for a summit with President Xi, the first such trip by a U.S. president since 2017. The diplomatic choreography underscores how the Middle East flashpoint has become entwined with broader great‑power rivalries.